Rubicon's Musical Theatre Camp Presents ONCE ON THIS ISLAND, 8/8-12

Rubicon's Summer Youth Theatre programs continue with the much anticipated Musical Theatre Camp production. Last Summer's production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat was honored with an Indy Award from the Santa Barbara Independent for Musical Direction by John Enrico Douglas. This Summer, Douglas joins the artistic team again for Once On This Island, a highly original and theatrical Caribbean fairy tale.

Director, BrIan McDonald, chose to do Once On this Island in celebration of the Rubicon Education & Outreach department's ten year anniversary, as it was the very first production the Musical Theatre Camp did when he founded the program in 2002. "As a professional theatre company," says McDonald, "I believed it was important that Rubicon's classes focused on the education and nurturing of students who were seeking to pursue a career in the performing arts. However, it became quite clear to me that, in truth, the importance of an arts education has very little to do with the nurturing of future talent in the arts as it does with development of skills like reading comprehension, critical thinking, creative development and social interaction. Without a doubt, arts programs like the ones offered at Rubicon are changing lives in ways that no other form of study can."

ONCE ON THIS ISLAND is directed by BrIan McDonald with musical direction by John Enrico Douglas and choreography by Carolanne Marano, and features book by Lynn Ahrens, music by Stephen Flaherty and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, based on "My Love, My Love" by Rosa Guy.

CAST: Natalie Bouton, Madeline Gambon, Natalie Graham, Rebecca Graham, Michael Hernandez, Olivia Jones, Kendall Kincaid, Seryozha La Porte, Macaria Martinez, Sierra McWaters, Miranda Mize, Jacob Mizraji, Kelyla Nelson, Jessica New, Josh Ranck, Stefany Gabriella, Claire Winch and Katherine Reaves.

This highly original and theatrical Caribbean adaptation of the popular fairy tale The Little Mermaid garnered eight Tony nominations for its Broadway run, including Best Musical, Book and Score. In almost non-stop song and dance, the show tells the story of Ti Moune, a peasant girl who rescues and falls in love with Daniel, a wealthy boy from the other side of her island. When Daniel is returned to his people, the fantastical gods who rule the island guide Ti Moune on a quest to test the strength of her love against the powerful forces of prejudice, hatred and death.

BrIan McDonald (Rubicon Education and Outreach Director) most recently directed Rubicon Theatre's production of MASTER HAROLD…AND THE BOYS which was an LA Times Critics Pick and Ovation Recommendation, and received several Santa Barbara Independent Awards. Other Rubicon directing credits include Bus Stop (nominated for an L.A. Stage Alliance Ovation Award for Best Production of a Play), Forever Plaid and A Rubicon Family Christmas. Before moving to California, Brian appeared in the National Tours of Miss Saigon and Forever Plaid, and appeared in performances at Denver Center, Theatre Virginia, The Lyric Stage, La Mirada Performing Arts Center, Center Theatre Group, Pasadena Playhouse, Thousand Oaks Performing Arts Center and Rubicon Theatre Company. Brian received an LA Weekly award for Best Supporting Actor as Gaveston in Circle X's production of Brecht's Edward II and is the recipient of the Ventura Mayor's Arts Award, the Phi Delta Kappa Community Partnership Award and two Honorary Service Awards from the California State PTA. Brian has been on staff at Rubicon since 2002 and served as Production Manager and Associate Producer before becoming the Company's first Education and Outreach Director. He is the founder and program director of Rubicon's Summer Youth Program, which offer training intensives in Musical Theatre, Drama and Technical Theatre. Brian is a B.F.A. graduate of the Boston Conservatory of Music, Dance and Theatre.